People
with Crohn's Disease experience a decrease in appetite that tends to
affect the body receiving the daily recommendations of nutrition for
good health and healing.

Crohn's Disease is associated with diarrhea and leads to the poor absorption of nutrients of the body and weight loss.

It
is advisable to drink lots of fluids - about eight to ten servings
everyday so that the body is kept hydrated and constipation is
prevented.

Doctors recommend a multivitamin mineral supplement that will help in the replacement of lost nutrients.

If
eating vegetables raw does not seem to agree with you, it is better to
cook and steam the vegetables. However with a flare up, the amount of
high fiber foods is reduced
while a low fiber or low residue diet is followed. These diets provide
some rest to the bowel so that symptoms are minimized. It
is also important to nourish the body with small and frequent meals. A
high protein diet with fish, eggs and lean meat provide relief from the
symptoms of Crohns disease.

Limit the intake of caffeine, alcohol and the sweetener, sorbitol, as these products only aggravate the symptoms of Crohns disease.

Limit
the intake of foods that produces gas like vegetables from the cabbage
family like broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts, onions, chives,
dried peas and lentils, peppers and carbonated drinks.

It has been proven through some studies that fish oil and flax seed oil are effective for those suffering from Crohns disease.

There are also studies that prove that prebiotics like psyllium and probiotics which are live culture are very helpful in providing relief from Crohns disease.

Hot Drinks Help Fight Cold and Flu

According to new research by CardiffUniversity's Common Cold Centre,
UK, a hot drink helps to reduce the symptoms of common colds and flu. A
simple hot drink of fruit cordial can provide immediate and sustained
relief from symptoms of runny nose, cough, sneezing, sore throat,
chilliness & tiredness.

The
research compared the effects of a commercially produced cordial apple
and blackcurrant drink either 'hot' or at room temperature in 30
volunteers with common cold symptoms.

The Center's Director, Professor Ron Eccles, said: "It is surprising that this is the first scientific research on the benefit of a hot drink for treating cold and flu symptoms. The big advantage of this type of treatment is that it is cheap as well as safe and effective."

Interestingly
enough, this finding supports the understanding from traditional
chinese medicine with regard to the nature of acute illness as often
described as a 'wind cold' condition which would respond to treatment
of HOT drinks and herbs.

Published in Clinical Journal of Rhinology in Dec 2008.

Probiotics Protect Pneumonia Sufferers

Pneumonia
is a common complication in patients on breathing machines and occurs
when harmful bacteria from the mouth, throat or breathing tube are
inhaled into the lungs.

According to a study led by Bengt Klarin et al. at the University Hospital in Lund, Sweden, probiotics could be used to protect critically ill patients from developing pneumonia. The journal, Critical Care
reported that the probiotic solution performed just as well as normal
antiseptics used to keep pneumonia-causing bacteria at bay.

In the study, Bengt Klarin et al. compared the probiotic treatment with chlorhexidine in 50 critically ill patients. Microbiological testing showed that both
treatments appeared to be equally effective at preventing potentially
harmful bacteria from flourishing in the mouth and throat.

The
friendly bacteria can block the colonization by dangerous bugs of the
airways of ventilated patients. Also, a probiotic that adheres to the
mouth lining will be able to work around the clock, unlike antiseptics
which wear off after a few hours, say the authors.

Coffee reduces risk of gout in men.A recent study by Dr. Hyon K. Choi, of
University of
British Columbia, showed that men who drank 4 to 5 cups of coffee a day had 40% lower risk of gout than men who drank none. Men who drank 6
or more cups daily had a 59% decreased risk. Gout is a painful
inflammatory disease characterized by attacks of arthritis. It is
caused by excessive buildup of uric acid; however, coffee tends to
lower uric acid levels.

Stroke patients benefit from hot/cold therapy.In a recent study, Dr. Fu-Zen Shaw of the Institute of Cognitive Science of National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan,
discovered that when thermal stimulation is added to standard physical
therapy, there were significantly better recovery rates in wrist
extension/sensation and grasping strength than patients who were only
give standard physical therapy. In the study, hot and cold packs were
alternately applied to the patient's hand and wrist for over 20 to 30
minutes. Thermal stimulation was given five times a week for six weeks.